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Thursday, February 24, 2011

Burgettstown posts boys basketball position

Burgettstown Area School District has posted the boys varsity basketball coach position on its website. Applications are currently being accepted for the position held the past three years by Brendan Cypher.

A former standout player at Chartiers-Houston, Cypher became the Burgettstown coach in the 2008-09 season and replaced Ed Goetz, who had guided the Blue Devils to six consecutive playoff appearances.

Cypher, who was 24-years-old at the time of the hire, went 15-8, 11-10 and 11-11 in three seasons with an 0-3 mark in the postseason.

13 comments:

It is funny to me that Burgettstown now decides to get rid of Cypher. He has ruined what Burgettstown Basketball used to be. This year they even dropped to an easier conference and he still could not lead the team to a winning season. He not only chanced away one of the best athletes Burgettstown has had in a long time but he has also made it that other kids do not want to play anymore. My question is, Who recommended him for this job and why was he chosen? Oh and the fact that he got a DUI this year, that is setting a great example for the young boys he was forming into adults.

lets be honest, bongiorni left to play football at west alleghney, he had no chance of getting a schlorship to play college football from burgettstown. it did not matter who the basketball coach was he was going to W.A.has anyone asked why he went to west alleghney and not some where else, the reason ismrs bongiorni works with mrs palko that is how he ended up at W.A.as far as kids wanting to play for the team there was 18 players on the team with no freshman,what other team had that many kids on it not counting freshman?the basketball team had almost as many players as the football team the basketball coach was thrown under the bus by the bongiornis to get their son to W.A. to play football

i do not blame the bongiorni kid for wanting to play football at a school where he has a chance to get looked at by div I and II schools.that would most likely not have happend where he was considering burgettstown football team has only 1 more win over the last 2 years than avella.it was the way he did it

Lets think back to when Ed Goetz was the head coach if you want to talk about a hard schedule and big wins. Beat wash high once every year, a section championship and the state play offs one year. There were games that the gyms were filled. Go look up some of the scores and wins Burgettstown basketball used to have. and as far as it comes to that Bongiorni kid, can you really blame him for wanting to win? Maybe its more than just a game for him when it comes to football and basketball! He loves the game and wants to compete. I know if I had the opportunity to play ball for West A i would have jumped at the chance without thinking twice.

Cypher has rubbed people the wrong way and had a DUI and his attitude has prevented numerous talented athletes, including Bongiorni, to not want to play basketball even though they played through junior high.

Regarding Bongiorni, why couldn't he stay in the district where he lived, accept the challenge of making his teammates and friends better, and lead the football and basketball programs into the playoffs? That would seem like a worthy thing to do. His decision was greedy and atheltically-motivated, but that's just what happens in high school sports these days. Somehow, the PIAA can't understand.

And, by the way, Bongiorni won't go anywhere as a QB. He is a D-2 defensive back. If he wants to play hoops in college, then he is a D-2 or D-3 hooper. He is a very good athlete, but is nowhere near D-1 quality in football or basketball. Going to West A won't elevate his status anymore than going to Burgettstown. College coaches evaluate talent in camps/showcases and on film regardless of what high school uniform the kid wore and will find the athletes to fit their program.

About the blogger

A devoted fan of the Grateful Dead, Bob Marley, 1990s rap and Tom Petty, Mike Kovak works as a sports writer for the Observer-Reporter, a newspaper located in Washington, Pa. Kovak covers high school sports – from football to softball and everything in between. He's known to appear at the random Pitt football and men's basketball game or the occasional West Virginia game and previously helped Steelers beat writer F. Dale Lolley at home games. When not tracking college basketball – his sport of choice – or watching That 70s Show reruns, Kovak is busy playing Mr. Mom for his daughter, Anna Noel Kovak.

Kovak was hired by the Observer-Reporter in 1999. He previously spent two years at the Beaver County Times and four months as an intern at the Tribune-Democrat, located in Johnstown.

Kovak invites any and all movie buffs to exchange lines from classic comedies, such as Anchorman, Caddyshack and The Hangover.

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Mike Kovak is a sports writer for the Observer-Reporter. All content on this blog is Copyright 2011, Observer Publishing Co. Washington, PA. 1998-2009 All Rights Reserved